Air compressor



R. J. REANEY AIR COMPRESSOR April 16, 1935.

Original Filed Nov. ,5, 1928 NIEN NAM

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R. J. REANEY AIR COMPRESSOR pril 16, 1935.

Original Filed Nov.` 5,- 192e 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ./'NVENTo/Q passe/ J. Rea/wy,

MLS

April 16, 1935. R, J, REANEY A13 COMPRESSOR Original Filed Nov. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aprs 16, 1935 'Unirse stares AIR CGMPRESSOR Russell John Reaney, Ottawa, OntariaiCanada Application November 5, 1928', Serial No. 317,399

Renewed' August "29, 1934 8 Claims.

This present invention relates to new and useful improvements in an air compressor andy has for its primary robject the provision of animproved and simplified structure including cylinders and pistons within a main vcompressed air tank, with the pistons and one ofA the cylinders adapted for reciprocation while the other cylin ders remain stationary within said main compressed air tank.

Another object of the inventionk resides in the provision of an air compressor of the character stated, whichv is of such construction and operation as to provide for several compressing operations on'the air charges drawn in from the surrounding atmosphere during operation -of the device.

The invention has for a further object the provision of an air compressor oi the character stated', which is composed oi the Ininirnurfi number of parts, of simple construction and operation and in which changing from open to closed4 position and vice versa ofthe several slide Valves for the cylinders and air conducting tubes is autoinatically accomplished at the endl of each stroke ci the reciprocating pistons.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects, as will become apparent as the descrip tion proceeds, :ny invention resides inthe construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and point#V ed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described, when reference is had to the drawings, forming a part of this disclosure and wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several parts.

In the drawings:-

Figure l is a longitudinal section through the improved air compressor with the operative parts shown in initial positions;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, showing the position oi the operative parts at the endof the first stroke of the reciprocating pistons;

Figure 3 is a plan of one of the automatic slide valves employed; Y

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the valve, substantially as taken on the plan of line 19"-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indil u cated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a perspective viewoi another type of automatic slide valve employed;

Figure' 6 is a longitudinal section through the second type ofvalve shown in Figure 5. v

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it

(Cl. ZEQDISZ) will be'noted that the main compressed air tank lil, has a compressed airV service pipe. I2 leading therefrom, at a point near the far or rear end thereof, the service pipe. l2, carrying a hand controlled valve 35 and apressu-re' gauge M' of conventional form. The main compressed air tank l l is provided with a forward head I5 and a rear head1 I6, threaded or otherwise firmly secured on the opposite ends thereof. A double bracket i'i is carried on the outer face of the forward head l5 with the legs of the bracket converging, then turned toward one another as at i8 and inally havingrinwardly directed par allelV portions i9 slightly spaced apart andv extending through the center oi the head I5- and into the main compressed air tank tl The portions-.i9 of the doublel bracket H servel to support centrallyin the main compressed air tank il, the pair of spaced and aligned stationary cylinders 20' and 2 I, the parallel portionsi-S- connecting with the outer of forward end of the cylinder; The opposed ends or the cylinders and 2l are connected by the bar 22 which is preferably integral with said opposed cylinder ends. A stationaryv air inlet tube 23 projects outwardly or forwardly from the forward-head ofthe stationary cylinder 2U, the inner or rear endet the stationary air inlet tube 23 communicating withthey interior of the cylinder 20, while -the outer or forward end of said station aryl tube 23 is open' to. thesurrounding atmosphere. A check valve 24 is carried in the stationary tubeVv 23 toperrnit atmospheric air to enter the cylinder Z-fbu't prevent air from escap-y ing from the cylinder 20'by way of the stationary tube y23.

An operating handle 25, the operationvof which is 'started and continued by hand or other power, applied thereto, transversely straddles the double bracket il' and has its opposite ends connected with? the guide'mem'ber 28 reciprocating through the central opening 2T of the forward tan-k head i5. The guide member 26 extends outwardly from the center of the forward head or end 28v ofthe elongated reciprocating cylinder' 29 and encircles the 'parallel inwardly directed portion i9`oi` the double bracket H. Itis therefore apparent that the operating handle 25 may beemlployedf` to operate or reciprocate the cylinder 23.

The length of the cylinder 29 is greater than the combined length of theV stationary cylinders- 2D and2 IA and their connecting rod 22, allof which are enclosed by the cylinder 2'9- whichv reciprocates over the cylinders 20 and 2'!v and is further guided by the stationary guide rods 30,p`rojecting in the main compressed air tank I l from the rear head i6 thereof and extending through the projecting annular flange 3| of the rear head 32 of the cylinder 253. Appropriate bearing rings 33 are carried circumferentially of the stationary cylinders 2d and 2l, near the ends of the latter lor snug engagement with the inner circumferential wall of the reciprocating cylinder 29.

Working within the stationary cylinder is the piston 34 carried on the solid piston rod which extends forwardly through the center of the forward head of the cylinder 20 and has its outer end attached to the center of the outer end of the reciprocating guide 26. An appropriate one-way valve 36 is provided in the piston 34. Working within the stationary cylinder 2l is the piston 37 carried on the forward end of the hollow piston stem 33 which has its rear end secured in the rear head 32 of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and opens into the main compressed air tank li. A one-way valve 39 is provided in the hollow piston rod 33. The compressed air conducting tube i6 has its main portion extending longitudinally of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and its forward end 4l is turned at an angle and extends inwardly through the side of the latter near the longitudinal center of said reciprocating cylinder 29. The rear end 42 of the tube fili is also shaped parallel to the forward end 4! and ends with the side of the two-way slide valve G3, which in turn is secured in the rear head 32 of the reciprocating cylinder 29. It will therefore be seen that the compressed air conducting tube 4Q and the two-way slide valve d3 move with the reciprocating cylinder 29 and the pistons 3! and 3l and their respective piston rods and 38 during operation of the air compresser.

Secured in the rear head I6 of the main compressed air tank IE and projecting inwardly therefrom is the valve operating member 44 in alignment with the two-way slide valve 43 and engaged by the latter when the reciprocating cylinder 29 is in its rearwardmost position or at the end of its rearward stroke. A slide valve 45 is carried in the rear head of the stationary cylinder 2! and in alignment with the two way slide valve 43. vA similar slide valve 46 is also in alignment with the two-way slide valve 43 and slide valve 45 and is carried in the forward head of the stationary cylinder 2l. Another slide valve 41 is carried in the rear head of the forward stationary cylinder 2B and in alignment with the two-way slide valve 43, slide valve 45 and slide valve 45. The purpose of thus arranging these several valves d3, 45, 45 and 41 will later appear. Carried in the opposite portion of the rear head of the stationary cylinder 20 is a check valve 48 which, when opened, forms communication between the interior of the cylinder 20 and the compressed air chamber 49, between the cylinders 20 and 2i and within the reciprocating cylinder 29.

A further check valve 50 is provided in the rear head of the stationary cylinder 2| and which check valve 5t, when opened, provides communication between the interior of the stationary cylinder 2! and the rear end portion of the reciprocating cylinder 29.

The construction and operation of the twoway slide valve 43 may be readily apparent from Figures 3 and ll, in which it will be seen that the vValve body has a longitudinal air passage 5I opening on the outer end thereof and leading to the connecting passage 52 in the slide plate 53 of the valve and which connecting passage 52 forms communication between the passage 5i and the second passage 54, leading to the interior of the reciprocating cylinder 29, at the rear end thereof, thus providing for passage of the compressed air from the main compressed air tank Il into the rear end of the reciprocating cylinder 29 between the rear head 32 thereof and the rear head of the stationary cylinder 2l. When the slide plate 53 is in its other extreme position, the compressed air passage 55 thereof is brought into communication with the air passage 54 and the transverse air passage 56, in the body of the valve 43 and which passage 5G leads to the turned end 42 of the compressed air conducting tube 40, thus opening communication between the interior of the reciprocating cylinder 23 and this end 42 of the said air conducting tube 48. The slide plate 53 has a pin 51 extending transversely therethrough and working in an elongated longitudinal slot 58 in one end of the body of the valve and a second or plunger 59 works longitudinally through the body of the valve and projects from the other end thereof. This second pin or plunger 52 has a head 55] provided on its inner end and engaged with the side of the depending free end and the pin 59, within the end pocket El formed in the valve body and having communication at its side with the slot 58. A head 52 is provided at the other end of the pin 5l, and bears against the under face of an angular bracket plate 53 carried on the body of the valve 43 and extended at an angle across same, opposite end in spaced parallel relation to the slide plate 53. An appropriate eXp-ansion spring 64 is engaged around the driving pin 5l between the head 62 thereof, and the outer face of the slide plate 53 and bearing thereon to resiliently retain the slide plate 53 in closed or air-tight engagement with the portion of the body of the valve on which it operates.

From Figures 5 and 6, the construction and operation of the other type or form of slide valves employed by the applicant and designated as valves 45, 46, and 4?, may be readily apparent. As these valves are of similar construction and operation, only valve 45 is illustrated and will be described in detail. The body of the valve d5 is of elongated form and provided with an exteriorly threaded portion 55, similar to the two-way slide valve 43 and also includes a slide plate 5t working on the flattened portion 67 of the valve body and having a pin 68 extended through the slide plate 65, through the elongated longitudinal guide slot 69 therefor in the valve body and into the end pocket 19 thereof. One end of the slide plate 66 pro-jects past the end of the valve body for engagement with an opening member to move the slide plate 55 inwardly to its innermost position while movement of the slide plate 55 to its outermost position is eifected by the second pin or plunger 'H which works longitudinally in the valve body and extends from the opposite end thereof, the head 'I2 on the inner end of the plunger 'H engaging the side of the pin 88 within the pocket 10. The head 13, on the outer end of the pin 53 engages the under face of the angular bracket 14, carried on the body of the valve @l5 and having its free angular portions in spaced parallel position to the slide plate 66 and outwardly thereof. The expansion spring 'l5 encircling the pin 68 between the head T3 thereof and the outer face of the slide plate 623 and bearing on the latter serves to resiliently retain the valve plate in close xus . and air-tightcontact with the valve body., yIn this form of .theya1ve, .Cilly la single airpassagej is V'required in thevalve body, extending longitudinally rthereof ,from one end and'then'turned to open on the flat sideface 0f the Valve body.

. When the slide plate 66 is in ,one ofvlitsv extreme positions, the valveslot 11thereof, registers with the turned end of the air passage 16 in the valve Lbody and thus thevalve is open whenin this 1G. extremepositiom the turnedend of the air passage 167throughthevalve body is covered and position. When .the slide Vplate 6B is in its other when thel slidev plate 66 within thestationary cylinders 20and 2 I, the reciprocating cylinderf'ijand the air chamber 49, air under atmospheric"`pressure, and the reciproeating; cylinder 3 9 is occupying its outermost or fortvardmost.. position, as shown in Figure l.

. When the `reciprocating cylinder .29 is in this position, the valv 'e 43` is vin position to'provide communication between'the interior of the main compressed air tank., II and the rear end oi' the reciprocating cylinder 29. The Valve 45 is closed;

1 the valve 43'1isopen`;y and the valve 41 is closed. l-lllthejcheck Valves 24, 36, 48, 39 and 41 are always normally closed, but free to open or operate as required. The reciprocating cylinder 29 is now `reciprocated by the operating handle'25, for starting the air compressor. VAs the reciprocating cylinder 23 vmakes its rearward or inward stroke, the compressed air passes from the main compressed air tank I I throughthe v alve 43 land into the rear end of the reciprocating cylinder 29. At the same time atmospheric air is drawn throughthe tube 23 into the forward end of the stationary cylinder 2U, forwardly of the piston 34. At the same time the air in the cylinder 2!! passes throughthe Valve`48 into the air chamber 45. From within the air chamber 49, air maypass into the forward endof the stationary cylinder 2 I, forwardly of the piston 31, by way ofthe open Valve 46. Thevalve 43 is at this time open into the rear end of the reciprocating cylinder 29, between the rear head of the latter kand the rear head of the stationary cylinder 2I. During rearward movement of the reciprocating cylinder 23, valves 43 and 5B open under vinuence of air pressurein the rejspectivey stationary cylinder-'S20 and 2 I, thus perinitting the air to discharge through the rear heads of said stationary cylinders 2S and ZI by lwayfofsaid valves 48 and,53. Asthe reciprocating cylinder 29 completes its rearward or inward movement or stroke, the slide plate 53 of the valve 43, engages the member 44. and this Valve; is thus reversed', closing communication between the interior` of v the main compressed air tank IIu and the rear lend of the reciprocating cylinder 29 but opening communication between the vinterior oi the rear end of the'reciprocating cylinder 29; and the air conducting tube 4B, permitting thischarge of compressed air topassby way of the air conducting tube 4 0 into the air chamber 4 9 between .the `statior-1ary'cylinders2u and 2|. The valve at l31 engages the valve 45 and opens the same.- Thus the iirst rearward stroke ofthe reciprocating Cylinder 2 9v isr completed.

1 'Nowthecompressed air in the: airchamber A.49,.passes throughthe-openvalve 41 @intothe stationary cylinder 23,.-rearward1yv of the piston 1,

34 and. forces the latter forwardly.,Atthesame timeA they compressedairwithin the rear end ofthe reciprocating,cylinder.29 passes through the 4opened Valve 45Aintothe stationary cylinder nZI, rearwardlyV ofthe ,piston 31 and pressesV forward against. the latter. During the first forwardstroke ofthe reciprocating. cylinder 29 ,and the pistons 34 and 31, the vairpreviously drawn ,intothese stationary cylinders, 20 and 2|.for-

.wardly of the reciprocating ypistons 34..and` 31 is compressed. As this air the forwardend of n the stationarycylinders 2,0 .and 2 I is compressed sufliciently during this Aforward strokethe .automatic check valves' 36 and39 aref thus vforced tov open andY permit -thisairv to pass to the vother side of the pistons 34 and.31, the air passing through the valve 36 into the stationary cylinder 23, rearwardly of the piston ,34, while; the. air passing through the Valve 39 travelsthrough the hollow piston rod 38 and into .the rear end o f the main compressed airtank II.. Atthe end of the forward stroke, the valve 4 3 is again shifted or reversed to open communication between the interior ofy the main .compressed air tank II and the rear end of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and to close thegpipe r4I), .At .the same time the Valve 45 is closed, the vvalve 46 is opened by the piston 31, andthe valve 41 is Vclosed by the forward end 4Irof the pipe 43.

and ZI, rearwardly of thereciprocating pistons 34 and 31 and has thus been divided among these three chambers.

All of the parts of the air compressor are now ready for the beginning of the second rearward way or" the valve 43, into the rearend of the I'eciprocating cylinder 29. During. itsgsecond rearward stroke, the compressed air within the stationary cylinder 20, rearwardly. of thev piston 34, is forced out of the cylinder 2), throughzthe valve 48, into the central air chamber 49 and passes with the air already in said airchamber 49, through the open valve 46 and into .the station ary cylinder 2I forwardly of the piston 31, without effectively Vopposing the rearward movement of the reciprocating cylinder 29 andthe pistons 34 and 31. The compressed air within the stationary cylinder 2|, before the beginning of this second or new rearward stroke is, during the second or new rearward stroke forced bythe piston 31 through the Valve Y53 and into the rearwardly moving end of the reciprocating cylinder 29. A supply of atmospheric air is also drawn into the stationary cylinder 2l) by the piston 34 on its rearward movement.;v When the second or new rearward'stroke of the reciprocating cylinder 2 9 is being completed, the Valve 43 is again reversed, closing communication between the main compressed air tank II andthe `rear end of the reciprocating cylinder 23 and opening communication between said rear end -ofthe reciprocating cylinder 29 and the air conducting pipe 40, thus reversing of the valve 43 being again accomplished through the medium of the member 44. At the same time, the valve 45 is again opened by the vpiston 31, the valve 46 is closed by the end 4I of the pipe 40 and the valve 41 again opened by the piston 34. The parts of the air compressor are now ready for the second or new forward stroke of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and the pistons 34 and 31.

During the second forward stroke, the second charge passes from the rear end of the reciprocating cylinder 29 through the pipe 49 into the central air chamber 49 and also through the open valve 45 into the stationary cylinder 2l, rearwardly of the piston 31 to operate on the latter and force the same forwardly. The valve 41 being also open, the air from the central air chamber 49, now of increased pressure, passes throughthe open valve 41', into the stationary cylinder 29 and presses against the rear face of the piston 39 therein during the following forward movement of the latter. lThe compressed air in front of the piston 34 passes through the valve 36 therein, to the rear side of the piston 34 and any excessive air pressure within the rear portion of the stationary cylinder 2B, over the pressure within the central air chamber 49 will result in the opening of the valve 43 and equalization of the air pressure within said rear portion of the stationary cylinder 29 and within the central chamber 49. The compressed air in the stationary cylinder 25, forwardly of the piston 31, passes by way of the valve 39, through the hollow piston stem 38 into the rear portion of the main compressed air tank Ii, during` the second or new forward stroke of the reciprocating cylinder 29, and the pistons 34 and 31.

During each forward stroke of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and the pistons 34 and 31, the compressed air within the main compressed air tank Il tends to exert pressure on the broad outer face of the rear end of the reciprocating cylinder 29. Likewise, during each rearward stroke of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and the pistons 34 and 31, the compressed air within the main compressed air tank il tends to exert pressure on the forward end of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and the forward face of the iiange 3| of the rear end thereof.

As the following rearward and forward strokes of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and the pistons 34 and 31 are in accordance with the second rearward and forward strokes, as described in detail, all of the valves operating in the manner set forth, on all of the succeeding strokes, the operation should now be clear and without need for further detailed description.

The single arrows applied to Figures 1 and 2, of the drawings, indicate the valves which open on each rearward stroke of thereciprocating cylinder 29 and the direction in which the air passes through said valves. The double arrows indicate the valves which open on each forward stroke of the reciprocating cylinder 29 and the direction in which the air travels through such valves.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be manifest that an air compresser is provided that will fulll all the necessary requirements of such Va device, but as many changes could be made in the above description and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention constructed within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the said accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. An air compressor including a compressed air tank; a reciprocating cylinder and pistons within said tank; stationary cylinders suspended in said tank and'within said reciprocating cylinder; said pistons operating in said stationary cylinders; and control valves for said compressor.

2. An air compressor including a main compressed air tank; stationary cylinders suspended in spaced relation within said tank; a reciprocating cylinder working over said stationary cylinders within said tank; pistons working with said reciprocating cylinder and operating in said stationary cylinders; guide means for said reciprocating cylinder; an operating handle for reciprocation of said reciprocating cylinder; and control valves for. said air compressor.

3. An air compressor including a main compressed air tank; a pair of stationary cylinders suspended in spaced relation centrally in said tank; a cylinder reciprocated longitudinally on said stationary cylinders; the space between said stationary cylinders and within the reciprocating cylinder serving as a central compressed air chamber; guide means for said reciprocating cylinder; pistons connected with said reciprocating cylinder and operating within said stationary cylinders; means for forming communication between one end of said reciprocating cylinder and said central compressed air chamber; and controlling valves for said air compressor.

4, An air compressor including a main compressed'air tank; a reciprocating cylinder operating longitudinally therein; guide means for said cylinder; pistons carried by and operable with said reciprocating cylinder; a pair of comparatively small stationary cylinders suspended within said reciprocating cylinderwith an auxiliary central air chamber therebetween; valves for each of said cylinders and pistons; and manual operating means for said reciprocating cylinder.

5. An air compressor including a main compressed air tank having an extension; a pair of stationary cylinders suspended in spaced alignment within said tank and connected with the extension thereof; a reciprocating cylinder within `said tankand working on said stationary cylinders; guide means for said reciprocating cylinder; said reciprocating cylinder also working on the extension of said main compressed air tank and on said stationary cylinders; pistons carried by said reciprocating cylinder and working within said stationary cylinders; and mechanically controlled valves and check valves for said cylinders and pistons; said mechanically controlled valves being opened and closed mechanically at the end of each stroke of said reciprocating cylinder and pistons.

6. An air compressor includinga main compressed air tank; connected stationary cylinders suspended in alignment, in the center of said tank; supporting means for said stationary cylinders connected with one head of saidtank; a reciprocating cylinder working on said stationary cylinders and enclosing the latter; guide means for said reciprocating cylinder carried by the other head of said tank; said reciprocating cylinder having an extension Working through the first mentioned head of said tank and enclosing and operating on said supporting means for the stationary' cylinders; pistons carried by said reciprocating cylinder and working within said stationary cylinders; mechanically controlled valves and check valves for said cylinders and said pistons; and means working With said reciprocating cylinder for controlling said mechanically controlled valves.

7. An air compressor including a main cornpressed air tank; a reciprocating cylinder operating longitudinally Within said tank; guide means for said reciprocating cylinder; stationary cylinders arranged in spaced relation and.

supported in said reciprocating cylinder; mechanically controlled valves and check valves for said cylinders and said pistons; an air conducting pipe forming communication between one end of said reciprocating cylinder and the air chamber formed Within said reciprocating cylinder between said stationary cylinders; one of said valves serving to control passage of air through said pipe; said pipe serving to operatev on mechanically controlled Valve for each of said stationary cylinders; the said check valves being normally closed and opened only by air pressure; and means for reciprocating said reciprocating cylinder.

8; An air compressor including a main compressed air tank; a reciprocating cylinder operating longitudinally in said tank; said reciprocating cylinder having a flanged end; guide means carried by one head of said tank and cooperating with the flanged end of said reciprocating cylinder to guide the same; an extension carried by said reciprocating cylinder at its opposite end and working through the other head of said tank; stationary cylinders arranged in spaced alignment Within said reciprocating cylinder and connected With one another; means extending from a head of one of said stationary cylinders and projecting through the extension of said reciprocating cylinder and connected Ywith the adjacent head of said tank to support said stationary cylinders in suspended position; saidv stationary 'cylinders and'said reciprocating cylinder containing initially only atmospheric air; a valved air inlet from the at- Vmosphere to one of said stationary cylinders; au-

tomatically operated valves for said cylinders; pistons carried by said reciprocating cylinder and working in said stationary cylinders; Valves for said pistons; and-means for causing automatic opening and closing of saidautomatically operated valves at the end of each stroke of said reciprocating cylinder.

RUSSELL J. REANEY Cil 

